Reviews of Kawaza Village
Wildlife sightings and reviews
11 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Kawaza Village and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
SoCal Girl
USA
"Kawaza Village review"
1 night Arrived 19 May 2016
"Once in a life time opportunity. Really enjoyed myself, a definite authentic experience.
Everyone should visit this village, although must be prepared for the primitive accomodations if you choose to spend the night...I personally loved it." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Everyone should visit this village, although must be prepared for the primitive accomodations if you choose to spend the night...I personally loved it." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs N
Herts
"Kawaza Village review"
1 night Arrived 6 Aug 2015
"The highlight of the trip.
Great experience seeing a real Zambian village.
Everyone was very friendly." See all these reviews: 17n in Zambia
Great experience seeing a real Zambian village.
Everyone was very friendly." See all these reviews: 17n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mrs & Mr H
USA
"Kawaza Village review"
1 night Arrived 21 Jul 2012
"The village overnight was such a wonderful part of our trip. The experience really made us feel a connection to Zambia that we never would have felt had we not stayed at the village.
We spent time at the school, medical clinic, traditional healer, and a church service. The church members sang for us and greeted us individually. I still think about the children who have so little but always had a smile on their faces!" See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
We spent time at the school, medical clinic, traditional healer, and a church service. The church members sang for us and greeted us individually. I still think about the children who have so little but always had a smile on their faces!" See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
E & D
New Mexico
"Kawaza Village review"
1 night Arrived 17 Jul 2012
"We have a mixed review for this stop on our trip. As an overnight experience, I found the "genuine traditional village experience" to be a bit staged.
Our hosts wanted to make sure we did a few things on the list of activities they offered, which included a must visit to the "traditional healer" (who had converted to Christianity for healing guidance), and sleeping on a rank foam pad with very dirty sheets and eating day old (or three) re-hydrated chicken and pumpkin leaves.
After much insistence I was allowed to visit the school and share some poster art and supplies with the kids, but it's not on their list of activities so it was going a bit against the grain. The villagers were very friendly and the kids allowed us to join their soccer match. Like I mentioned, it was a mixed-bag. One last note, it was the only place on the trip where something personal went missing." See all these reviews: 11n in Zimbabwe; 6n in Malawi; 1n in Zambia
Our hosts wanted to make sure we did a few things on the list of activities they offered, which included a must visit to the "traditional healer" (who had converted to Christianity for healing guidance), and sleeping on a rank foam pad with very dirty sheets and eating day old (or three) re-hydrated chicken and pumpkin leaves.
After much insistence I was allowed to visit the school and share some poster art and supplies with the kids, but it's not on their list of activities so it was going a bit against the grain. The villagers were very friendly and the kids allowed us to join their soccer match. Like I mentioned, it was a mixed-bag. One last note, it was the only place on the trip where something personal went missing." See all these reviews: 11n in Zimbabwe; 6n in Malawi; 1n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Good
Service:
Average
Activities:
Poor
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Poor
Facilities:
Average
"Fascinating insight into local village life"
1 night Arrived 29 Sep 2011
"Greeted by our host Constantino, we were made to feel welcome from the moment we arrived, plunged in straight away with helping with the meal and washing up, spent the rest of the afternoon chatting to our hosts, visited Kawaza School where we met the girl we have begun sponsoring and were surrounded by very excited children desperate to have their photos taken! Dancing laid on in the evening (no light after dark apart from the fire so take torches!)
Loved the interaction with our hosts, spent a surprisingly restful night in our mud hut (apart from the cockerel starting his day at 2.15am!) and were taken to meet other villagers before we left after our breakfast of noodles and sauce.
Staying overnight is probably not for everyone but we are very glad we did, it gave us a real taste of what village life is like and we spent a long time discussing the future of the village and particularly of the younger generation.
Thoroughly recommended." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Loved the interaction with our hosts, spent a surprisingly restful night in our mud hut (apart from the cockerel starting his day at 2.15am!) and were taken to meet other villagers before we left after our breakfast of noodles and sauce.
Staying overnight is probably not for everyone but we are very glad we did, it gave us a real taste of what village life is like and we spent a long time discussing the future of the village and particularly of the younger generation.
Thoroughly recommended." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr W & Ms W
Worcs
"Kawaza Village review"
1 night Arrived 20 Aug 2011
"Kawaza is not a place where the emphasis is on the tourist - it is unspoilt and provides a true insight into village life. This was a wonderful addition to our trip and a great way to learn a little about the real Zambia. Half a day is for those who simply want to tick the box - stay overnight to really complete the experience.
The 'grading' given below is clearly not a comparison with any of the safari lodges. This is a no frills experience and for 'simple living' the standard is very good indeed." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia; 2n in Zimbabwe
The 'grading' given below is clearly not a comparison with any of the safari lodges. This is a no frills experience and for 'simple living' the standard is very good indeed." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs G
Sweden
"Good insight of the daily village life"
1 night Arrived 21 Jul 2011
"Very difficult to rate, as we have nothing to compare with, apart from a few hours in Chiawa community at Tsika Island. The vey short stay took us around several villages, where we came upon different activities as pounding seeds, making gin and us giving medical advice.
We had the opportunity to visit the clinic and its only permanent staff, the laboratory assistant. We got a short but rather comprehensive picture of the conditions they work under, and also a glimpse of the main deceases.
Back in the village, evening dance and singing. Dinner, chima and chicken, and riddles, early to bed.
Morning, breakfast - rice - and of to the school. It was very impressing to see what they were able to do with the very minimal resources they have. The commitment of the staff was outstanding.
The visit gave us a very good understanding of the social structure in a Kunda village.
To conclude our impression is that the standard of room, the food etc was very good, far above what they normally would have for them selves. They sleep on the floor - we had mattrasses.
We very much enjoyed the stay," See all these reviews: 17n in Zambia
We had the opportunity to visit the clinic and its only permanent staff, the laboratory assistant. We got a short but rather comprehensive picture of the conditions they work under, and also a glimpse of the main deceases.
Back in the village, evening dance and singing. Dinner, chima and chicken, and riddles, early to bed.
Morning, breakfast - rice - and of to the school. It was very impressing to see what they were able to do with the very minimal resources they have. The commitment of the staff was outstanding.
The visit gave us a very good understanding of the social structure in a Kunda village.
To conclude our impression is that the standard of room, the food etc was very good, far above what they normally would have for them selves. They sleep on the floor - we had mattrasses.
We very much enjoyed the stay," See all these reviews: 17n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs P
Volcano
"Fantastic visit to Kawaza Village!"
1 night Arrived 25 Jun 2011
"Our stay at Kawaza Village was a real highlight of our trip. Constantino and Constance were excellent hosts and showed us around the village and introduced us to many friendly people. What we enjoyed the most about this visit was that it provided a real glimpse of rural Zambian village life. Nothing was contrived or touristy about our stay. We ate what they ate, and slept in a small thatched hut similar to what they live in. Nothing fancy, no electricity, no running water, but definitely adequate.
Village women and girls entertained us that evening with traditional dances by the campfire, and many locals joined us in the celebration. The people we met seemed genuinely happy to see us there.
Any visit to South Luangwa would not be complete without a night's stay at Kawaza Village! Great people and a real experience!" See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe; 9n in Zambia
Village women and girls entertained us that evening with traditional dances by the campfire, and many locals joined us in the celebration. The people we met seemed genuinely happy to see us there.
Any visit to South Luangwa would not be complete without a night's stay at Kawaza Village! Great people and a real experience!" See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe; 9n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs M
Northumber
"Kawaza Village review"
1 night Arrived 18 Jul 2009
"Overnight visit was cancelled due to DSM illness on recommendation of doctor but we made a morning visit which was very interesting.
We found the visit to the village, the school and the local clinic of great interest. We were well looked after by Lawrence.
Because of cancellation overnight we were returned to Nkwali and given accommodtion there. Melissa welcomed us back and we had another good night in Nkwali. As the aspects below do not apply I have just completed the 'good' column." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
We found the visit to the village, the school and the local clinic of great interest. We were well looked after by Lawrence.
Because of cancellation overnight we were returned to Nkwali and given accommodtion there. Melissa welcomed us back and we had another good night in Nkwali. As the aspects below do not apply I have just completed the 'good' column." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs M
Kingston
"Kawaza - informative and great evening 'show'"
1 night Arrived 17 Aug 2008
"A really worthwhile trip. We visited villagers homes, met the headmaster of the local school, attended a church service, talked to a traditional healer, shopped at the local shop, fetched water from the well,..... In the evening they put on a show for us where the whole village seemed to show up. Drumming, singing and dancing with 'audience participation'! Ate 'local' meals, drank homemade brandy and wine - tasted pretty good!"
See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
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